Wednesday, August 31 ~ How are your drawing skills?

I'm sick again, but reading along with you at home!

Journal 8
I'm bored of vocab and questions. Let's change it up! For lines 616-715 the Titanomachy is explained; that's basically the beginning of the war in which Zeus takes power from his pop, Kronos. Surprise! The dad's aren't very functional in these myths. Read through and give subtitles to each stanza. You could do this pretty quickly together.

• You won't need much vocab, but a heads up. The "Lame One" in 579 is of course Hephaestus. and "Kronides" in 623 is Zeus, son of Kronos.

Then starting around line 715-820, draw a picture of the world as Hesiod explains it. Hey, why not use the white board as you read it aloud? Then you can each take a picture at the end.

• Oh and a tip... "Iapetos' son" in line 746 is Atlas...holding the world in his hands. 

We'll catch up tomorrow. I promise!

Optional HW: If you feel like Theogony has been a blur, you can master it in about an hour. Watch this professor sum it up pretty well.

Tuesday, August 30 ~ Late night pukies makes for independent teenagers?

Hey guys,

I picked up something nasty. I'm bummed that we can't work through Theogony together today.

Here's a guide to gett'er done.

• Share vocab
• Work through Journal 7 from yesterday.
• As you go, give each stanza a heading...It keeps my mind from floating away. Might help you too? 

See ya tomorrow,
West

Monday, August 29 ~ What is the Titanomachy?

Trade vocab and talk over organization so far.

Trade more vocab:
Phoebe 404
Koios 404   (Mattie)
Leto 406
Asterie 409
Hekate 411  (Bri)
Earth Shaker 441
Rheia 453
Hestia 454   (Kaylee)
Demeter 454
Hera 454  (Isabella)
Iapetos 507
Klymene 508   (Zoe)
ATlas 509
Menoitios 510  (Grace)
Prometheus 510
Epimetheus 511
Hesperides 519  (Sarah)
Heracles 530
Lame One 579  (Shoghi)

Journal 7 (lines 404-615)

1. Starting from 383, how is Hesiod revealing Zeus' power?
2. Why are Styx & Hecate each favored?
3. How does Zeus rise to power? Is there anything significant about him that we should note?
4. When do the gods and mortals intersect? Considering this "meeting" how would a classical Greek citizen view him/herself in light of the way the gods see people?
5. Who was Pandora? What does Hesiod seem to think about the nature of women? 

Friday, August 26 ~ EQ: How did Hesiod organize the beginnings of the cosmos?

Go over J6

New Vocabulary

• 
• Hesperides 215
• Nereus 233
• Thaumas 237
• Phorkys 238
• Keto 238
• Eurybia 239
• Harpies 267
• Gorgons 274
• Perseus 280
• Chrysaor 281
• Pegasos 281
• Geryones 287
• Herakles 289
• Erytheia 290
• Echnida 297
• Typhaon 306
• Orthos 309
• Kerberos 311
• Hades 312
• Hydra 313
• Iolaos 317
• Amphiryon 317
• Chimaira 319
• Bellerophon 325
• Sphinx 326
• Cadmeians 326
• Nemea 327
• Theia371
• Eos 372
• Hyperion 374
• Kreio 375
• Eurybie 375
• Astraios 376
• Zephyr 379
• Boreas 379
• Eosphoros 382
• Styx 383
• Zelos 384
• Nike 384
• Kratos 385
• Bia 385

HW: Read to line 403 (read it at least three times). Annotate your thoughts. Look things up if you like, but don't drown in genealogies! Your goal is to figure out how Hesiod is structuring this part of the text. How has he organized the creation of the cosmos?

Girls and Shoghi! Check out this rad summary of Theogony that I found after class today. I hope it helps!

Thursday, August 25 ~ Oh muses! Help us read Hesiod!

Let's get into Theogony!


First, let's share those definitions.

As we dig into Theogony, here are some guiding Questions:

Journal 6: Theogony (lines 1-210)

1. What is Hesiod setting up his poem to be about according to his intro?
2. What Greek values can we infer in the way the muses are viewed and glorified?
3. How would you describe the birth of the cosmos? (lines 104-153)
4. Why do you think Hesiod is constantly mentioning weather a "child" was conceived/born sexually or asexually? 
5. What does Aphrodite's origin say about who she will be? What do her names reveal? 

HW: Start Theogony (only first 210 lines tonight) and do Journal 6. 

Wednesday, August 24 ~ EQ: What can we learn about the Greeks from their creation story, The Theogony?

Discuss J5

Before we get into Theogony, let's do some research on the background.
Do a quick google search together and see what you find for...

• the muses
• 8th century B.C. in Greece
• Hesiod's life

Now let's get some vocab. We can write the definitions in our notes. If it is a name, try to get the meaning of that name. The line numbers are listed so that you can write the short definition right into the text. 

• Helicon 1
• Kronios 4
• Permessos 5
• Olmeios 6
• aegis 11
• Argive 12
• Poebus 14
• Gaia 15
• Themis 16
• Aprodite 16
• Hebe 17
• Dione 17
• Leto 18
• Iapetos 18
• Eos 19
• Helios 19
• Selene 19
• Okeanos 20
• Mnemosyne 53
• Pontos 107
• Chawos 116
• Tartaros 119
• Erebos 123
• Aether 124
• Erinyes 185
• Kythereia 196

HW; Get your definitions for tomorrow.

Tuesday, Aug.23 ~ EQ: What is a Theogony? a Muse?

Work on J4 and J5

HW: J5 – Heroes (53-61): “Theogony Intro” / “The Muses”

1.      What is a “theogony”?

2.      What two main stories does Hesiod's Theogony tell?

3.      Describe the concentric arrangement of the passage concerning the battle between Zeus and the Titans. 

4.      How are the five major stories of the Theogony organized?

5.      Describe the structure of the prooimion.

6.      Describe some of the ambiguities of the first section of the prooimion.

7.      How does Hesiod make clear that Zeus is the central character of his poem?

8.      Who are the Muses? What is their role?

9.      In what sense do the Muses "lie"? What might this say about the nature of art?

10.  How does Hesiod connect poetry and political rhetoric? How does this differ from the modern view of poetry?

Monday, Aug.22 ~EQ: What is an “epic” and what are some essential characteristics of an epic?

Discuss J2 & J3

HW: Nope. We will take a day to read and work on J4 tomorrow.  Just in case you want to get ahead, I've added J4 Qs below. 

 J 4 – Heroes (43-51): “Introduction: Ancient Epic”

1. What is the definition of an epic?

2. What does an epic recount and include?

3. Describe the oral tradition from which epic’s seeds first sprouted?

4. List, define, and give one example of each of the standard epic poetic devices.

5. What meter did Homer compose in? Why is it called this?

6. Define and discuss the chiasm (and concentric or “ring” structures) as a textual structuring unit.

7. According to Leithart, what are some of the benefits to recognizing chiastic structures?

8. What do we know about Hesiod, the alleged author of Theogony and Works and Days?

9. What do we know about Homer, supposed author (in some way) of the Iliad and (possibly) the Odyssey?

Block ~ Finish Leithart's Intro

• Discuss J0 & J1
• Quick Search: Look around on the internet. Why do other people think we should study the Greeks and Classical lit? Do you think our society has much in common? What can we gain?
• Begin HW

HW: Start your work through the Intro

J2 - Heroes (29-35): "Our Stories and the Story of God"

1. What is Leithart's goal in writing this book?
2. Leithart claims that biblical parallels or "archetypes" can and should be found in pagan literature. What line of argument does he make (p.30) concerning creativity?
3. What does Leithart claim is the aspect of being created in God's image that is commonly forgotten? What are the most commonly mentioned?
4. What about God's (and man's) "making/creating" is different from that of the animals? What does he mean by "unnecessary beauty"? Considering this uncovered truth, what is Leithart suggesting we need to do to fulfill our purpose?
5. what is his line of argument that concerns story?
6. what are the three "books" of God?
7. What is the basic archetype in scripture that seems to be repeated in all other stories, even if they are warped versions?
8. What is you favorite quote from this journal reading? 

J3 - Heroes (35-38): "Hesiod, Homer, and Moses" & "Conclusion"

"Hesiod, Homer, and Moses"

1. Outline or discuss Leithart's rationale for a "Christian reading of ancient pagan literature" that  "arises from a biblical understanding of ancient history."
2. Explain how the Medieval Church often mishandled "the inheritance of the pagan classics," and give one example.
3. In what way were they correct with their handling?
4. According to this text, what are the only two options available concerning the relationship between scripture and all other stories? And if you think there is a third option, let's hear your idea explained. 

"Conclusion"

1. What has the church historically believed about the "devil's stories" and what should be her relationship to them? 
2. What is your favorite quote from this reading? 

Wednesday ~ So we begin...

Play Two Truths and a Lie

"What has Jerusalem to do with Athens?"

Some questions to consider:

Journal 0

1. What can I do as your teacher to meet your learning style? 
2. What ancient texts have you read before?
3. What is the hardest thing you've ever read? What made it tough? What strategies did you learn that could help you this year in our class?
4. Monte Vista promises to offer a distinctly Christian curriculum. Is there a Christian approach to reading these texts? If not, explain. If yes, answer #4.
5. What would a Christian approach consist of or look like?

Let's survey your book!

HW: J1 (Journal) Heroes (Heroes in the City of Man) (13-23): "Intro"/"The Problem with the Classics"

1. What did church father Tertullian mean when he asked the question, "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?"
2. Why does Peter Leithart quote Tertullian Why is Tertullian's question appropriate for today, according to Leithart?
3. What little (actually huge) bone does Leithart pick with the authors of Who Killed Homer? And why?
4. Cite tow examples of biblical heroes of the faith using pagan literature.
5. What did St. Augustine mean by "plunder the Egyptians"?
6. What are some of the difficulties/pitfalls to plundering the classics?
7. What are three of Leithart's premises (reasons) for why Christians should study the classics?
8. Do you take issue with any of Leithart's premises or conclusions? If so, which one(s) and why? If not, what is your favorite insight of his? 

Tuesday ~ Get a light heart

Just in case we haven't shared a class before....

• Is the blog on saved on your home screen? 
• Have you signed up for the remind app for our class?
• Have you gotten a notebook yet? 
• BTW...my cell is 831/454-6483... Let's talk about why I give this out...and when to use it.

Basic class info...

• Semester Weights 45/45/10
• Grade book has a 60% weight on assessments and 40% on everything else.
• Late work is 10% per day.

Intro Game & 2 Truths and a Lie

HW: Go to Maria in the business office. She has your hard copy of "Heroes in the City of Man" by Peter Leithart. This is our main text book for Classical Literature. (BTW-She will also give you a copy of the Shakespeare text book at the same time. Sorry. You do have to pay for your text book bundle before she will be able to give them to you. Let me know if there is a reason you cannot access your book.)